Shortage of Nurses Trained to Treat Sexual Assault Survivors

Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) are in short supply in the US, with up to 80% of hospitals lacking them due to a lack of funding and training. Nurses often work on-call shifts in addition to full-time jobs, and gaps in care can span hundreds of miles in rural areas. A program in Montana aims to set standards for care, provide in-state training, and connect examiners statewide. First Step Resource Center in Missoula is one of the few full-time sexual assault response programs in the state, with a specially trained team that works together to provide care and support for survivors.